What Are Anticoagulants?

The purpose of an anticoagulant is to reduce or eliminate the risk of blood clots. Blood clots form when blood platelets and proteins in the blood bind and stick together. Blood clots are an important function, they stop bleeding when the skin is broken, but they can also be very dangerous. In some cases, excess blood clots can form in an individual and they can block the rest of the blood’s circulation. In these cases, an anticoagulant is often needed.

Xarelto’s Dangerous Difference & Side Effects:

Xarelto works differently than other anticoagulants on the market because it blocks the chemical thrombin in the blood. Thrombin is responsible for making the blood clot, so by blocking thrombin, Xarelto takes away the bloods ability to form clots.

This is a desirable effect for many patients, as blood clots can cause strokes and heart attacks. According to legalherald.com, Xarelto is often prescribed to treat deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolisms, but Xarelto is more dangerous because it does not have an antidote to reverse its effects. Without an antidote, the patient is at risk for an uncontrollable internal bleeding event which can lead to serious injuries and even death.

Changes in the Blood Thinner Industry:

As the population ages and more people are in need of anticoagulants, the pharmaceutical industry is increasing their investments in research and development of new blood thinners. Xa Inhibitors, a new class of blood thinners that also includes Pradaxa and Eliquis, are among the most recent releases onto the market.

The global anticoagulant market is currently dominated by North America, specifically the United States. The United States is expected to continue to hold their place in the market over the next five years. This can be attributed to the country’s ever increasing awareness of the role of anticoagulants in disease management and their therapeutic applications. In addition to the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France are expected to hold major shares of the market. The growth of the anticoagulant market in Asia is expected to boom in the next five years, especially in Japan, India, and China.

Xarelto Lawsuits May Stunt Industry Growth:

Despite these predicted growths, the emerging risk of side effects and adverse events that can be caused by Xa Inhibitors is expected to slow the growth of the industry. As reported in a previous Legal Examiner article, there is a growing number of lawsuits being filed against the drug Xarelto iwth allegations that the drug causes severe internal bleeding that leads to injuries, hospitalizations, and death. The ever increasing number of lawsuits against the drug is also expected to slow the growth of the industry until new, safer medications come out.

“Now that more reports are emerging on Xarelto’s dangerous side effects, we expect to see more cases come forward.” Marc Goldich, an experienced Xarelto attorney, said.

For any questions regarding this press release or the pending Xarelto litigation, please contact Marc Goldich.